The Pompeiian Horse

6. FATE

APRIL

"What farce?"

"You know. I'm gonna let you win, so you can claim your prize."

"Don't you dare let me win! Fight me as if your life depended on it." Janus leaped to the weapons board, grabbing a sword and, as he spun, a short shield. He waved the sword at Horse. "Go!"

For some unknown reason, this last action startled Horse. He stood there, staring at Janus as if he had truly not seen him before. His face screamed puzzlement.

But Janus did not have time to figure out Horse's apparent astonishment; he was pissed, and he needed a vehicle for his rage. He used a small box near the board to give himself a boost and went in a spiral toward Horse, hitting him with the shield as Horse reacted, covering his face with his forearms crossed over it. Janus rolled as he landed and sprang to his feet. "Does that feel like a farce to you?" he growled.

Horse charged; his first swing low to disable Janus's legs. Janus jumped and tried to use the momentum to elbow Horse, but the blond deflected him with one arm and smacked the side of the sword to Janus's right flank. "If this was a real sword you'd be dead."

"Yeah, right. Not with that aim," Janus hissed, moving for Horse's midsection. He swung the shield, and Horse blocked it; Janus slashed— Horse counterpointed.

The fought for several minutes in equal terms, sweat covering them— both hard-ons visible as their loincloths absorbed their perspiration. Janus preferred to come from above, but that was not working with the Stallion, even if Janus was slightly taller than the other man. He went for low, swirling with his leg out to trip Horse.

Horse jumped sideways, in a confusing motion that looked like he would move away from Janus, but instead brought him closer, and he kicked Janus in the chest. Janus lost his balance and ended up on his back with a thud, dust scattering upward around him. Horse lined the tip of one of his swords to Janus's throat— and then did something unnecessary; he put his foot on Janus's cock, not crushing it but with enough pressure to father goosebumps all over Janus's body.

"You begged me not to let you win," Horse said with a smirk.

"I did not beg," Janus barked.

Horse shrugged and threw his swords away from them. The action expanded his chest and showed the span of his arms. It was a beautiful image, almost as seeing a giant bird of prey spreading its wings. The ex-gladiator narrowed his eyes at Janus (not a real scowl, more like someone trying to understand an elusive thing), and then removed his foot from Janus's crotch. "You fight well." He offered his hand to Janus. "You could've been a good match at the Arena."

"You'd have killed me there," Janus said calmly, dusting himself.

"Only if I had to." Horse winked jovially.

The Stallion was an enigma, but in that moment the only thing Janus could do was laugh— laugh openly. "You know I wasn't truly trying to mess up your face."

"I know." Horse chuckled and shook his head. "You just wanted me crippled."

"That'll be no fun later," Janus agreed, smiling.

"Right you are." Horse moved to pick up their scattered weapons. After putting them in a pile by the weapons board, he came back to Janus, who still stood in the middle of the yard, not cranky anymore but absolutely horny. "Let's get you cleaned so we could enjoy the second part of our day," Horse said.

Close to this yard was a washroom where slaves removed all the dirt and sweat from their bodies. Covered in fresh loincloths, they walked silently to Horse's room.